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Crown

Crown

Words of Faith 4-10-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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James 1:12

         Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 

 

       We live in a culture that loves sports.  Billions of dollars are spent on sports.  The Olympic Games inspire us every four years to watch and marvel at the very finest athletic performances that arise among men and women.  These incredible athletic efforts set new records and result in the dramatic awarding of medals.  The very best and finest achievements are honored in those ceremonies with pride and tears. 

       In the ancient world, such games were familiar as well.  There were various regional games and then the ancient Olympic Games.  But for the Greek Olympian, the crown was not made of precious metal.  It was a simple olive wreath that would begin to decay immediately. 

       The ancients were wise.  They realized that as soon as a victory in this earthly realm was achieved, it was gone.  The champion was a winner for the day and that day only.  As soon as the victory was won, there was someone a little faster or a little stronger coming to overtake the victory.

        James is quick to point out that this is not so with the victories of the Kingdom!  The prize in this arena of competition is a crown of life.  It is eternal.  Even the gold, silver, and bronze of the modern Olympic era are passing away.  But we compete for an imperishable prize.

        What an image!  The book of Hebrews describes it by telling us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.  The grandstands are full as people of faith cheer us on toward the goal.  If we could only hear their encouraging roar.  But we will have to settle for the encouraging words of our Lord.  The encouragement of those, like James, who persevered in difficult times.  Keep on!  Reach out for that crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him! 

         Where are you today in the race?  Lagging a bit?  Grown a bit weary?  Listen for the cheers from the stands.  You are reaching out for a crown that lasts.

 

Lord, by Your grace, forgetting what lies behind, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, and our website, and our church app, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.  

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